Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

Prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published during the previous year that "contribute to our understanding of racism...

A prize of $10,000 is given annually for a full-length fiction or nonfiction manuscript about serious physical illness by a writer who has personal experience with life-threatening illness. The winner...

Two prizes of $10,000 each are given annually for translations from French into English of a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published during the previous year. A...

A prize of $10,000 and publication by Restless Books will be given in alternating years for a book of fiction and a book of nonfiction by a first-generation resident of the United States. The 2016 prize...

Four yearlong residencies at San José State University in San José, California, which include a stipend of $10,000 each, are given annually to fiction writers and creative nonfiction writers. The fellows...

A prize of $7,500 is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction published during the previous year. The winner also receives a weeklong, all-expenses-paid summer residency at Chautauqua...

A prize of $5,000 is given annually for a first novel published during the previous year. The winner and the winner's agent will also receive lodging and travel expenses to attend the First Novelist...

A prize of up to $4,000 is given annually for a book of fiction or creative nonfiction published during the previous year by a writer who is a resident of the Midwest (or who previously resided in the...

A prize of $3,000 and publication by Tupelo Press is given annually for a poetry collection. The winner also receives a weeklong residency at the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art valued at $1,500...

A prize of $3,000, publication by Omnidawn Publishing, and 100 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Terrance Hayes will judge. Submit a manuscript of 40 to 120 pages with a $27 entry...

Grants of $3,000 each are given annually to poets, fiction writers, and creative nonfiction writers who reside in the Bronx in New York City. Winners must complete a public service activity as part of...

A prize of $2,500 and publication of a poem on the Poetry Society of America website is given annually to a poet over 40 who has published no more than one book. Submit two copies of 10 pages of poetry...

A prize of $2,000 and publication by the Center for Literary Publishing is given annually for a poetry collection. Susan Howe will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 100 pages with a $25 entry fee ($28...

A prize of $2,000 will be given for a group of poems by a poet who has not published more than one poetry collection. A second-place prize of $1,000 will also be given. The winners will also each receive...

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by BkMk Press are given annually for a poetry collection and a short story collection. Submit a manuscript of 50 to 110 pages of poetry or 125 to 300 pages of...

A prize of $1,000, publication by Gival Press, and 20 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Submit a manuscript of at least 45 pages with a $20 entry fee by December 15. Send an SASE,...

Prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for books of poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and translation published in the previous year by authors residing west of the Mississippi River. The winners...

Four prizes of $1,000 each and publication by the Poetry Society of America are given annually for poetry chapbooks by poets who have not published a full-length collection. Two fellowships are given to...

Two prizes of $1,000 each and publication by Willow Books are given annually for a poetry collection and a book of fiction or creative nonfiction by writers of color. Using the online submission system,...

A prize of $1,000, publication by Codhill Press, and 25 author copies is given annually for a poetry collection. Pauline Uchmanowicz will judge. Submit a manuscript of 48 to 70 pages with a $30 entry fee...

A prize of $1,000, publication by Livingston Press, and 100 author copies is given annually for a first collection of short stories by a U.S. citizen. Fiction writers who have not published a short story...

Two prizes of $1,000 each are given annually for a poetry collection and a novel published during the previous two years. Submit a book published in 2015 or 2016 with a $25 entry fee by December 31....

A prize of $1,000 and publication by University of Alaska Press is given in alternating years for a book of poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. The 2017 prize will be given for a book of poetry. Jericho...

A prize of $1,000 and publication by Press 53 is given annually for a story collection. Kevin Morgan Watson will judge. Submit a manuscript of 100 to 250 pages with a $30 entry fee by December 31. Visit...

A prize of $1,000, publication by Quercus Review Press, and 15 author copies is given twice yearly for a poetry collection. Dana Koster will judge the Fall Poetry Book Award. Submit a manuscript of up to...

A prize of $1,000 is given annually for a poem. Marge Piercy will judge. Submit up to five poems totaling no more than seven pages with a $15 entry fee by January 2, 2017. Visit the website for complete...

A prize of $500 and letterpress publication by the Center for Book Arts is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner will also receive an additional $500 to give a reading at the Center for Book...

Four prizes of $500 each are given annually for a poetry collection, a first novel, a book of fiction, and a book of nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) by an African American writer published in...

A prize of $500 and publication on the Society of Classical Poets website is given annually for a group of three to five poems on a theme. One poem must address human rights in China, terrorism, or the...

A prize of $250, publication by Bull City Press, 10 author copies, and a fellowship to attend the Frost Place Poetry Seminar (valued at $1,550) is given annually for a poetry chapbook. The winner also...

Publication by University of Iowa Press is given annually for an essay collection. Meghan Daum will judge. Submit a manuscript of 40,000 to 90,000 words with a $10 entry fee by December 10. Visit the...

Awards are given annually for books published in the United States during the previous year to recognize "outstanding literary achievement from the entire spectrum of America's diverse literary community."...

Three prizes are given annually to writers residing in California for books of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction (including creative nonfiction) published during the previous year. Prizes are also given...